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iM 4,1-14,4 2011 iMac Graphics Card Upgrade
- Thread starter MichaelDT
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EDIT: Video playback in YouTube at 1080p seems to be (mostly) fixed now compared to the GTX 870, a little stutter here or there.
EDIT2: Oh! The dock seems to have gone opaque suddenly.
EDIT3: I'm a dumb-dumb, I didn't apply the post-install root patches once I was in Ventura, which includes the AMD Polaris Legacy patch. Everything seems to be smooth as silk now.
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Hey guys! Like I told you, I bought this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.46.41e81802zyzkrq. I tried to flash with ch341a_spi, impossible on 2 rigs and 3 OS's (windows, ubuntu and Mac). Then I installed it in the iMac, thinking that I'll flash it in after booting. But no boot. Only 1 led. Finally after some struggle (and buying another programmer clip), I saved the original firmware and flashed WX7100_GOP.rom in Windows. But same, no boot, just 1 led. Trying to debug this restart flushing in MacOS. The result is this:
"alex@iMac-Pro---Alex WX7100 iMac GOP VBIOS % sudo flashrom --programmer ch341a_spi -r original.bin
flashrom v1.3.0 on Darwin 22.6.0 (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at https://flashrom.org
Calibrating delay loop... OK.
libusb: info [darwin_detach_kernel_driver] no capture entitlements. may not be able to detach the kernel driver for this device
Found GigaDevice flash chip "GD25Q40(B)" (512 kB, SPI) on ch341a_spi.
===
This flash part has status UNTESTED for operations: WP
The test status of this chip may have been updated in the latest development
version of flashrom. If you are running the latest development version,
please email a report to flashrom@flashrom.org if any of the above operations
work correctly for you with this flash chip. Please include the flashrom log
file for all operations you tested (see the man page for details), and mention
which mainboard or programmer you tested in the subject line.
Thanks for your help!
Reading flash... done."
I attach the original firmware and maybe you can give me a hint. Thank you!
"alex@iMac-Pro---Alex WX7100 iMac GOP VBIOS % sudo flashrom --programmer ch341a_spi -r original.bin
flashrom v1.3.0 on Darwin 22.6.0 (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at https://flashrom.org
Calibrating delay loop... OK.
libusb: info [darwin_detach_kernel_driver] no capture entitlements. may not be able to detach the kernel driver for this device
Found GigaDevice flash chip "GD25Q40(B)" (512 kB, SPI) on ch341a_spi.
===
This flash part has status UNTESTED for operations: WP
The test status of this chip may have been updated in the latest development
version of flashrom. If you are running the latest development version,
please email a report to flashrom@flashrom.org if any of the above operations
work correctly for you with this flash chip. Please include the flashrom log
file for all operations you tested (see the man page for details), and mention
which mainboard or programmer you tested in the subject line.
Thanks for your help!
Reading flash... done."
I attach the original firmware and maybe you can give me a hint. Thank you!
Evrika! Non booting it was because the brackets has no isolation (I was lucky not making a short circuit). After flashing EG firmware, I have OC boot and very good temps. Thanks all who contributed!
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Hi,
planning to replace my dead Ati HD 4850 (original gpu) of my imac 11,1 / 27" / late 2009 (2 pipe, MXM-B)
with an AMD WX 4130.
If I understand correctly, I will need: custom VBIOS + OCLP + slightly custom installation
My question is about that custom install
mostly about the heatsink: having an MXM-B, I guess I need an MXM-A heatsink.
1. Is it correct to say that my MXM-B heatsink will not work and I need a MXM-A?
2. If yes, which MXM-A heatsink should I get that fits my 27" imac?
one taken from an older ati hd 6750 (mxm-a) for example?
how do I look for the correct size?
I am not sure that just googling 'mxm-a heatsink imac' will do...
3. Also thinking about that small X bracket, assuming I get the card without that X bracket...
how do I get the right size for that X?
I have the impression that those X depend on gpu/card and are not 100% same sizes
Stupid questions maybe, I am barely learning all this, but I am planning and want to get this sorted.
Thanks for any tips
ps: original post on this thread that offers details about WX 4130 is this one:
planning to replace my dead Ati HD 4850 (original gpu) of my imac 11,1 / 27" / late 2009 (2 pipe, MXM-B)
with an AMD WX 4130.
If I understand correctly, I will need: custom VBIOS + OCLP + slightly custom installation
My question is about that custom install
mostly about the heatsink: having an MXM-B, I guess I need an MXM-A heatsink.
1. Is it correct to say that my MXM-B heatsink will not work and I need a MXM-A?
2. If yes, which MXM-A heatsink should I get that fits my 27" imac?
one taken from an older ati hd 6750 (mxm-a) for example?
how do I look for the correct size?
I am not sure that just googling 'mxm-a heatsink imac' will do...
3. Also thinking about that small X bracket, assuming I get the card without that X bracket...
how do I get the right size for that X?
I have the impression that those X depend on gpu/card and are not 100% same sizes
Stupid questions maybe, I am barely learning all this, but I am planning and want to get this sorted.
Thanks for any tips
ps: original post on this thread that offers details about WX 4130 is this one:
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All this happened on an iMac 27 2010. With EG firmware all is working flawless, including Windows. After that I changed the same card in an iMac 27 2011. All I have now is 2 leds lighting and I can reach remotely Mac OS. But no light into external monitor. Until now I didn't use the LCD, nor in 2010 or 2011. I saw on the first page that some wx7100 don't post on 2011. I need to try with another firmware in 2011? Any solution? wx7100 was bought for iMac 2011 and I want to try everything to make it work.
1. No, it's not correct. MXM-B heatsink can be used to cool MXM-A card. You will need Kapton tape (to prevent short circuit) and thermal pads (applied on VRAM chips). A 0.5/1.0mm copper shim is advisable, but not essential.
3. Assuming you get the card with X-bracket. How would you remove it to use the original X-bracket?
I used the HD4850 X-bracket on the Quadro K1100m fine. No problems at all.
So, I don't know if it's normal or it's my iMac 27 2011, but the problem it wasn't the firmware or card. I have no exit on external display no matter what. At the last resort, I installed the LCD and boom: lights on. I have tried WX7100-EnableGop.rom and WX7100_1243_EnableGop.rom and both are working. First give WX 7100 on Mac OS and easy driver install on Windows, second give RX 480 and slightly better Valley benchmark and hard time to install driver in Windows.
If I plug an external monitor on TB port near firewire the OS detect it but I have no light in it. In the same port thunderbolt network adapter doesn't work. If I plug the monitor near the network conector it doest detect and no light but thunderbolt network adapter works. Is this usual, or I have a hardware failure?
I have brightness control in Mac OS and Windows, sleep/wake OK, all apps working.
One more time: thank you all who contribute!
Attachments
I have this error using GRML-FLASH:
"can not flash a 0x80000 length image into a 0x20000 length rom" error: 0FK01
I should use the programer then. No?
Thank you man! I have flashed successfully. Now I have Apple EFI boot screen. Apart EFI boot, this rom has another particularity in comparison with WX7100-EnableGop.rom?
It is basically the very same WX7100 vBIOS developed by @Nick [D]vB and @internetzel and finally uploaded here - the EG driver developed by @Bmju has been added to enable the EFI boot picker.
The only reason I did not put it on the repo so far: There was no positive feedback it would work. Fine we have sorted this out.
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Hi man! I have added EnableGop, DDR3, ACPI and IGPU patch to my iMac 2011 BIOS. All is working perfectly.
I made a mistake and I hope you can put me on the right direction. I bought 3 iMac's for a very good price. 2 27 2011 and 1 27 2010. I bought also 1 wx7100 and 2 rx480. My bad. Like you see 1 rx480 is useless. I just ask, it is stoped the development of firmware for rx480 for working on iMac 27 2011? I'm ready to try anything. Thanks!
No, the RX480 is VER 1.0 only and will therefore simple not POST in the iMac12,2.
POST is power on self test. No POST means no chime, no boot, no spinning fans.
So it is not a matter of firmware development, is is a hardware problem.
Even an empty firmware flashed on the cards the computer will not POST - so it is no firmware incompatibility.
We have no idea why this happens and we gave up on searching half a year ago.
I already did it following the tutorial posted on first page. The screen is like new. Thanx @Ausdauersportler!
good morning everyone, a question, I have a 27 2011 and a 27 2009. I bought a k2100 and a k1000m, I also have 21.5 heatsinks. is that okay? could the temperature sensor give problems and maybe have artifacts and slowdowns even in the bench? as a more stable operating system is big sur okay?
Hi Guys,
My AMD Radeon 2TB 6970 has been twice revived by baking in the oven but it is dying again and must be replaced.
I want to run Mac osx Lion and Monterey with Adobe CS5 on my 2011 27" iMac model 12.2 i7 3.4Gb with 2TB Samsung 970 SSD.
My work is illustration and rendering in Illustrator and Photoshop, also simple video animation.
I would appreciate a recommendation for choice of GPU. I seek trouble free upgrade.
From initial reading a 2Gb Nvidia Quadro K2100M seems a safe choice as 55 watts hopefully does not draw too much power.
However, I understand I must use a hardware CH341A clip programmer in Terminal and install Homebrew in the 2011 iMac. Problem is with the 6970 dead, I cannot use the 2011 iMac any more.
I have a working 2019 iMac 27" i5 3.7Ghz with Homebrew already loaded. Can I undertake the Flash process on an external SSD drive and then use the external to drive the 2011 iMac once the new GPU in place?
Comments welcome.
My AMD Radeon 2TB 6970 has been twice revived by baking in the oven but it is dying again and must be replaced.
I want to run Mac osx Lion and Monterey with Adobe CS5 on my 2011 27" iMac model 12.2 i7 3.4Gb with 2TB Samsung 970 SSD.
My work is illustration and rendering in Illustrator and Photoshop, also simple video animation.
I would appreciate a recommendation for choice of GPU. I seek trouble free upgrade.
From initial reading a 2Gb Nvidia Quadro K2100M seems a safe choice as 55 watts hopefully does not draw too much power.
However, I understand I must use a hardware CH341A clip programmer in Terminal and install Homebrew in the 2011 iMac. Problem is with the 6970 dead, I cannot use the 2011 iMac any more.
I have a working 2019 iMac 27" i5 3.7Ghz with Homebrew already loaded. Can I undertake the Flash process on an external SSD drive and then use the external to drive the 2011 iMac once the new GPU in place?
Comments welcome.
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Sorry, but there is no such metal GPU around. No metal GPU supports 10.7 Lion, even older Kepler cards need 10.8.2 as pointed out somewhere on the first post. All of the listed metal AMD cards will be supported in Monterey natively, but no AMD card can run any macOS older than 10.10...(unless you can accept lack of OpenGL acceleration there).
And you surely missed the lack of GCN1-3 support on iMac12,x models. sleep/wake is broken, cold boot not working properly. You milage may vary, but I wrote no support on such iMacs. So AMD on iMac12,2 is limited from 10.12 to Monterey or running Ventura with GPU patches..
Dear Ausdauersportier,
Yes, I do not grasp the full significance of the models and features you addressed.
Metal is not required as I am not trying to upgrade OSX on the 2011 27" 12.2 iMac to run a more recent OSX. I am happy to work in Lion or Yosamite. I just need a more reliable GPU. 2TB should be fine but which GPU will work reliably on Yosamite and Lion?
I have a 2019 27" 5K iMac for current work, however I like working in Adobe CS5 which only runs on these old systems. I am not interested in gaming.
I have worked my way through part of Michael DT’s excellent introduction which offers the ‘feature rich AMD WX4130’ and the ‘most Mac compatible M4000/M5100/W5170M’ but from your comments these post 2011 cards are not suitable for a 2011 iMac 12.2. Older cards used by 2010 iMac seem to be dual slot, not MXM.
I read Nvidia K1000M and find there too, Open GL is 4.6 and CL 3.0; whereas the old HD6970 was Open GL 4.4 and CL 1.2. I have no idea how critical those numbers are. Are Open GL and CL versions not backwards compatible?
If I cannot find a GPU to run Lion 10.7, I shall have to adapt to Yosamite 10.10 and lose some software features.
I am happy to take the trouble to make an Nvidia MXM GPU work with flashing via terminal. Perhaps you can help by suggesting a good choice.
Best Wishes,
Tony
Yes, I do not grasp the full significance of the models and features you addressed.
Metal is not required as I am not trying to upgrade OSX on the 2011 27" 12.2 iMac to run a more recent OSX. I am happy to work in Lion or Yosamite. I just need a more reliable GPU. 2TB should be fine but which GPU will work reliably on Yosamite and Lion?
I have a 2019 27" 5K iMac for current work, however I like working in Adobe CS5 which only runs on these old systems. I am not interested in gaming.
I have worked my way through part of Michael DT’s excellent introduction which offers the ‘feature rich AMD WX4130’ and the ‘most Mac compatible M4000/M5100/W5170M’ but from your comments these post 2011 cards are not suitable for a 2011 iMac 12.2. Older cards used by 2010 iMac seem to be dual slot, not MXM.
I read Nvidia K1000M and find there too, Open GL is 4.6 and CL 3.0; whereas the old HD6970 was Open GL 4.4 and CL 1.2. I have no idea how critical those numbers are. Are Open GL and CL versions not backwards compatible?
If I cannot find a GPU to run Lion 10.7, I shall have to adapt to Yosamite 10.10 and lose some software features.
I am happy to take the trouble to make an Nvidia MXM GPU work with flashing via terminal. Perhaps you can help by suggesting a good choice.
Best Wishes,
Tony
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Have a bit of an issue here, Bought a couple of M4000 1GB cards but cheaped out and bought the ROMless HP versions without realising there were no rom chips on them. I soldered on the ROM's from the old 6770M cards and flashed them with the clip. Still not getting any boot screen despite having modded EG2 bootrom. Are there strap resistors on these cards that need to be added for the system to see the ROM? Is there a guide around to be able to integrate the VBIOS into the bootrom so I can get around the issue?
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Hello!
There is only this card on the entire thread with Lion support.
The WX4130 is GCN4 and needs Sierra while the M4000 is GCN1-3 and is not supported and will need 10.10 - which is still not Lion. Ironically this entire thread focussed on the question to get more recent cards and better modern macOS support.
It would be more easy if you purchase an old ATI card ripped from an iMac11,x or iMac12,x - this would be much more easy.
The threads internal name is iMac 2009 to 2011 MXM3 graphics card upgrade just because all these models use MXM3 graphics cards.
I made my recommendations very clear on the first post. But despite what the experts are telling you there is no international equally accessible market with transparent prices for public (private) buyers (free trade zones are the exact opposite of free trade because you lock out the rest of the world from each of these zones). I just found used AMD M4000 MXM3 cards priced from 19 to 119 USD on eBay U.S - so everything depends on the local market you find in the outback or you have to deal with tax regulations.
You will find a used old card!
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